University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Maggie Hobson
Lucas: Purdue Rapid Reactions
November 20, 2021 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from the showdown with Purdue.
By Adam Lucas
1. In a high level game with plenty of offense, Purdue was just a little better, using a hot second half from a variety of sources to take a 93-84 win over Carolina.
2. In an NCAA Tournament-type game, huge swing midway through the second half. Carolina had finally taken the first lead at 65-64 on a Dawson Garcia three-pointer. After a Purdue free throw, Kerwin Walton had perhaps the most open three-pointer he's had since coming to Chapel Hill. But it wouldn't fall, and the Boilermakers proceeded to swish a pair of threes and a transition basket while being fouled to make it a 10-0 run since the UNC lead. Walton makes that shot far more often than not. It just wouldn't go down on Saturday.
3. What you love about this year's Tar Heels: they stood up to that 10-0 run and came back with a 7-0 spurt of their own, featuring a highlight reel dunk by Caleb Love, a drive by RJ Davis--who continues to be the competitive heartbeat of this year's team--and a three-pointer from Brady Manek. It felt every bit like Purdue had taken control of the game at the eight-minute mark. Within 90 seconds, the Tar Heels were right back in it.
4. Garcia was tremendous. The sophomore shot well, competed inside against a stout Purdue front line, and was the team's leading rebounder. He finished with 26 points on 10-for-13 shooting and also had a team-high eight rebounds.
5. The Tar Heels would have loved to have Leaky Black to defend Purdue's Sasha Stefanovic. The Boilermaker sharpshooter made some incredibly difficult jumpers, and Carolina eventually went to Anthony Harris on occasion in the second half to chase Stefanovic. Black was not with the team due to a non-Covid illness.
6. Competitive game from Carolina's starting guards. Caleb Love had 18 points while RJ Davis added 18, and they also combined for seven of Carolina's 12 assists. When he looks at the tape, Love may wish he had gone to the rim more often (he attempted seven three-pointers), but bear in mind that Purdue has a lot of trees under the rim.
7. The Boilermakers simply have a lot of weapons. In addition to the well-advertised frontcourt strength, Jaden Ivey is a very talented scoring guard, Stefanovic gives them a reliable outside shooter, and they have good depth. They look every bit like a national contender.
8. But Carolina also has to get better defensively. Purdue hit a red-hot 68 percent from the field in the second half as they largely got what they wanted offensively.
9. Remember, we knew this was going to be a different kind of Carolina season. Purdue dominated the points in the paint 40-16, ran a parade of big post men at the Tar Heels, and still could never put Carolina away. But they did have all three Tar Heel big men in foul trouble, with Bacot, Manek and Garcia all hit with four fouls by the 4:28 mark, and fouled out two of them. Williams and Edey combined for 29 points.
10. Carolina missed an opportunity in the final 8:26 of the first half. Purdue coach Matt Painter sat down Zach Edey and Trevion Williams with two fouls apiece while holding a six-point lead. The duo sat the rest of the half...but Carolina trimmed nothing off the lead. Williams was Purdue's most effective player in the second half, scoring on a variety of post moves.
11. Tough afternoon for Armando Bacot, who had a difficult assignment from the beginning against Edey, and then was saddled with foul trouble for most of the game. Bacot was just 1-for-6 from the field.
12. The loss means Carolina will face Tennessee and Rick Barnes tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. That should be a good battle between two teams that will come into Sunday desperate to avoid an 0-2 weekend.
1. In a high level game with plenty of offense, Purdue was just a little better, using a hot second half from a variety of sources to take a 93-84 win over Carolina.
2. In an NCAA Tournament-type game, huge swing midway through the second half. Carolina had finally taken the first lead at 65-64 on a Dawson Garcia three-pointer. After a Purdue free throw, Kerwin Walton had perhaps the most open three-pointer he's had since coming to Chapel Hill. But it wouldn't fall, and the Boilermakers proceeded to swish a pair of threes and a transition basket while being fouled to make it a 10-0 run since the UNC lead. Walton makes that shot far more often than not. It just wouldn't go down on Saturday.
3. What you love about this year's Tar Heels: they stood up to that 10-0 run and came back with a 7-0 spurt of their own, featuring a highlight reel dunk by Caleb Love, a drive by RJ Davis--who continues to be the competitive heartbeat of this year's team--and a three-pointer from Brady Manek. It felt every bit like Purdue had taken control of the game at the eight-minute mark. Within 90 seconds, the Tar Heels were right back in it.
4. Garcia was tremendous. The sophomore shot well, competed inside against a stout Purdue front line, and was the team's leading rebounder. He finished with 26 points on 10-for-13 shooting and also had a team-high eight rebounds.
5. The Tar Heels would have loved to have Leaky Black to defend Purdue's Sasha Stefanovic. The Boilermaker sharpshooter made some incredibly difficult jumpers, and Carolina eventually went to Anthony Harris on occasion in the second half to chase Stefanovic. Black was not with the team due to a non-Covid illness.
6. Competitive game from Carolina's starting guards. Caleb Love had 18 points while RJ Davis added 18, and they also combined for seven of Carolina's 12 assists. When he looks at the tape, Love may wish he had gone to the rim more often (he attempted seven three-pointers), but bear in mind that Purdue has a lot of trees under the rim.
7. The Boilermakers simply have a lot of weapons. In addition to the well-advertised frontcourt strength, Jaden Ivey is a very talented scoring guard, Stefanovic gives them a reliable outside shooter, and they have good depth. They look every bit like a national contender.
8. But Carolina also has to get better defensively. Purdue hit a red-hot 68 percent from the field in the second half as they largely got what they wanted offensively.
9. Remember, we knew this was going to be a different kind of Carolina season. Purdue dominated the points in the paint 40-16, ran a parade of big post men at the Tar Heels, and still could never put Carolina away. But they did have all three Tar Heel big men in foul trouble, with Bacot, Manek and Garcia all hit with four fouls by the 4:28 mark, and fouled out two of them. Williams and Edey combined for 29 points.
10. Carolina missed an opportunity in the final 8:26 of the first half. Purdue coach Matt Painter sat down Zach Edey and Trevion Williams with two fouls apiece while holding a six-point lead. The duo sat the rest of the half...but Carolina trimmed nothing off the lead. Williams was Purdue's most effective player in the second half, scoring on a variety of post moves.
11. Tough afternoon for Armando Bacot, who had a difficult assignment from the beginning against Edey, and then was saddled with foul trouble for most of the game. Bacot was just 1-for-6 from the field.
12. The loss means Carolina will face Tennessee and Rick Barnes tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. That should be a good battle between two teams that will come into Sunday desperate to avoid an 0-2 weekend.
Players Mentioned
F/C
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballHubert Davis Post-Georgetown Press Conference
Monday, December 08
Carolina Insider: Rapid Reactions – Men’s Basketball vs. Georgetown – December 7, 2025
Monday, December 08
UNC Men's Basketball: Wilson & Veesaar Lead 81-61 Win Over Hoyas
Monday, December 08
UNC Women's Basketball: Tar Heels Take Down Terriers, 82-40
Sunday, December 07